Lubrication



April 16, 1940. J, BUURA LUBRICATION Original Filed Aug. 9, 1922 Y R a NNN o e NNN! uw .MMM www( www www @wl www i www, @um L I, um. www mmm NRM. Qvm. www lwB @n @n @n www www @w .NEI m Patented Apr. 16, 1940 f lPAr1 .'1\ir OFFICE;

LUBaIcA'rIoN Joseph Bijur, deceased, late of New York,vN. Y., by George Bijur, executor, New York, N. Y.; said Joseph Bijur assigner, by mesne assignments, to Auto Research Corporation, a corporation of Delaware 'Original application August 9, 19222, Serial No. 580,668. Divided and this application October 9, 1934, Serial No. 747,499 y u Solanas. (01.,184-7) The vpresent invention relates primarily to central lubrication and. is more especially concerned with valving and/or metering flow control devices for central lubricating systems where small quantities of lubricant are to be fed to a plurality of bearings from a central pump and/or raser- Voir, for example, ofthe general type disclosed in issued Patents Nos. 1,632,771 and 1,632,772 of June 14,1927, and known as drip plugs, the flow rating of which-is not subject to fortuitous variation, and whichhave a restricting effect predominating over the restricting effect of the longest conduit or -tightest bearing, said restricting effect of the metering device often ranging from to severalhundred times the restricting effect of said longest line or tightest bearing.`

`In metering devices of the flow restriction type disclosed in` Patents No. 1,632,771 and No. 1,632,772, it is customary to provide separate strainer, valve, and restriction elements, the restriction being preferably of the pin-in-bore'type and 'being relatively fixed in position and the valve being of the fiat disk type and `being positioned in an outlet socket and Venclosed between a valve seat and avalve retainer. The socket may be a large one to receive a coil spring for seating the valve, or `a relatively small one with springless valves.

` In said patents the restriction element consists of a rigid imperforated rod of` metal whichfits into .a bore of slightly larger diameter to create the restricting effect.' v

In the present application the restricting effect is obtained by an element consisting of a naturally or artificially compact group of strands or fibres, preferably longitudinal ofthe direction of lubricant flow between which strands,liila ments, fibres or rods are formed restricting the Acapillary passages affording a very high obstruction to the flow of lubricant.

'I'his application is a division of application Serial No. 580,668, filed August 9, 1922, nowPatent No. 1,975,920. i

In the accompanying drawing in` which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating the application of the central lubrication system of fes the present invention to a'chassis, l

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale showing the construction of one embodiment of a preferred metering or drip plug fitting, and

' Figs'.' 3 and 4:` are views similar to Fig. 2.0i

Referring nowto the drawing, in Fig. 1 there is shown vdiagrammatically the general layoutof the chassisof an automobile having a lubricant supply unit S, illustratively on the dashboard.

The supply unitSlmay be fedv from the engine 1. `oil pump or a separate reservoir may be pro- V vided and `it may include a manually and/or automatically operated pump actuatedl directlyl from'themachine being lubricated, as'by a mechanical drive, or indirectlyfby an inertia motor, a piston` motor vor a diaphragm motor to feed the bearings intermittently or` continuously. The distributing systemincludes headers c and d, which communicate at their ends with the re= spective mains m extending the length of the channel frames and feeding various bearings at or near-.which thel drip plug terminals t are applied. Bridging conduits.(not shown) are provided leading to similar drip plugs (not shown) at or near the corresponding bearings on the axle or otherunsprung parts.

In the fitting of Fig. 2, a plug 368, is threaded into'one end of the fitting, the lower end thereof clamping aflange 363 formed on a downwardly extending cylindrical tube 310 against an inwardly extending ledge `31| formed in the cartridge.v The tube310 terminates above plug 361 and belowthe `bore of nipple 366. The seepage material comprises a brush 312 of wires, bristles or other similar rods, fixed about an axial tube 313, as by a 4bindingwire 314 and the projecting end 315 of the. tube, in turn, is secured as by riveting over the end of the plug 368. The free ends ofthe bristles are pulled into a tight bundle by a helix 316 of corrugated spring wire -which distende' under oil pressurel tolower the resistance and to correspondingly permit passage of oil therebeyond.

Inl operation, `with the plug in the preferred vertical position, it will be apparent thatl oil will Apass therefrom only when it fills the cartridge at least upto `the level of the nipple bore, and

the cartridge is, therefore,l always full at least to that level. Thus the line `is Closed against entry of air, since the level of oil in the fittingis always abovethe lower end of the tube 310, the oil seal thus formed remains effective to4 prevent the entry of air into the line.y If desired, aspring seated or spring flap or disk check valve may also be employed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the seepage mass comprises a block 319 of wood or other fibrous, i

porous, inorganic or organic, synthetic or natural material having Va flanged end 380 clamped against the ledge 31| ofthe cartrldgefbyfthe clo- '92?. The seepage resistancein this embodiment' sure plug 368, the length of the wood block f1tting tightly within the metallic cylinder 310.

Preferably, the block 379 has an axial depression 38! within which is snugly tted a lter plug 332 which projects upward into a cavity 383 of large diameter to permit the preliminary filtering action, for preventing the clogging'of the block by the accumulation of impurities therein.

rihe form of Fig. 4 involves a` cylindrical pipe element cartridge having an integral inner ledge 422 formed with a short integral. axialtube 423. The outlet plug 424 is formed with a cup-'shaped inner end 425. The cup B25 is telescopedover sleeve 423 with clearance. An oil seal is thus formed as will be apparent, and ducts 1326' afford communication therefrom to the outletpassage comprises a multiplicity of small short Wires 423, forced as a tight bundle into a central aperture 429 in a thick circular washer 439 of lead or similar compressible metal. The block is maintained against the flange of seat 1122 within the fitting by an inlet plug 423 threaded intoy the cartridge. The compacted bundle 23 of wires offers a: multiplicity'of minute passages for the lubricant in which thepressure is, of course, absorbed.;

Itis, of course, understood that anyA of the various .seepage or drip plug constructions described may be used on any lubricating line, in the run thereof or at the end thereof, or incombination with junctions or casings, and adjacent to and/or removed from the bearing, as shown in Patents Nos. 1,845,327, 1,862,482, i 1,903,499, 1,929,434, 1,937,597 and 1,943,326, or the installation may be equipped at various parts with other drip plug or meteringiittings o'f different design, as for example, Aof the .other designs disclosedin said application, Serial No. 580,668.

Whereit is desirable to maintain the lines substantially lled with lubricant at all times, the lines should be sealed so as to prevent air being `drawn in at a higher outlet and lubricant seeping out at a lower outlet asl by spring seated ball or fiat disk valves, oil seals as shown in devices of Patent No. .1,734,927, and/or by springless flap and free floating disk valves, which valvesmay be included in the drip plugs and/ or placed at the heads of the branches or lines feeding lubricant to a single bearing or a group of bearings` at the same level.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of thepresent application correspond respectively to Figs. 28, 30 and 3'7 of said parent application, Serial No. 580,668, and Fig. 1v of the present application correspondssubstan-` tially to Fig. 1 of said parent application, which has been simplified in its present showing.

Whatis claimed is: l. In a lubricating system of the type comprising a central source of lubricant, a metering unit for supplying lubricant to a bearing, o f such high restricting effectas in itself to control proportionment of lubricant in a centralized lubricating installation having an elongated distributing piping system substantially completely illed with lubricant and leading to the bearings, said restricting effect being tremendously greater than the restricting effect of the piping and bearings, and being so high as to permit lubricant flow only under substantial pressure applied through the column of lubricant in the piping and also so high as to substantially prevent gravity flow, said unit including a rigid capillary member through which the lubricant passes, said member being laterally compressed radially toward its central axis, the direction o'fssaidcompression Abeing transverse .to

vbe connected to a distributing tubing system, `which; will y.supply lubricant under substantial I `pressure to said inlet connection,.and toa bearing f ,to receive lubrication .from said outlet connection, and a mpressible resistance mass interposed vbethe direction of ow, said flow being caused to take place through said member.

2. In a lubricating systemof the type comprising a central source of lubricant, a metering unit for supplying'lubricant to a'bearing, of ysuch high restricting effect as in itself to cnntrolfproportionment of lubricant in a centralized lubricating installation having an elongated distributing piping system substantially completely filled with lubricant and leading to.` the bearings, said restrictllg eifectbeing tremendously greater than the restricting effect of the piping and bearings, and being so high as to permit lubricant flow only under substantial pressure applied through the column of lubricant in the piping and also so high as to substantially prevent gravity flow, said unit including a rigid capillary member through which vthe lubricant passes, said rigid member consisting of a brous material, the iibres of which extend longitudinally of the direction ojfiiow of lubricant, said member Abeing laterally compressed radially tcwardits central axis, thedirection vof said compression being transversete the direction of flow, said flow being caused to take place through saidinernber.

3. A iiow metering device, of suche-high restricting effect as in itself to controlv proportionment of lubricant in a centralized lubricating installation having an elongated distributing piplubricantand leadingto .the bearings, said restricting eect being tremendously greater than the restricting eifect of the piping' and bearings, and being so high as -to permit lubricant flow vonly under substantial pressure applied through the column of lubricant in the. piping and also so high as to substantially prevent gravityow, said device consisting of a fitting having threaded inlet and outlet connections, whereby ythe fitting may tween the inlet and outlet connections providedVI with a resilient compressing means, whichmeans will be distended-to decrease the amount of -re 1 sistance upon substantial pressure, said resilient compressing means taking the ,form 'of a `coil spring `closely encircling the sides of said mass rection of lubricant iow.` l. f f

4,111 acentralized lubricating installation, a

fitting :onsti-uctionv provided with threaded inlet and outlet connections to a'tubing system andtov ing system substantiailycompl'etely filled'with ...sa and compressing said mass transverse to the dia bearing'structure to receive lubricant, and a" .iiow restriction interposed between said inlet and outletconnections, of Silch high restricting effect as nin itselfato control proportionmentv of lubricant in a centralized lubricating installation having .an .elongated distributing pipinggsystem substantially completely filled with lubricant and leading to the bearings, vsaid restricting effect being Vtremendously greaterthan the restricting effect of the piping and bearings, and being so Alubricant through.; tl f- 1 e .side surfaces thereof,-

whereby lubricant is compelled v-to=passthrough f the entire block from the unconfned inlet to the unconned outlet face thereof.

5. In a centralized lubricating system, a high restriction metering fitting, of such high restricting effect as in itself to control rproportionment of lubricant in a centralized lubricating installation having an elongated distributing piping system substantially completely filled with lubricant and leading to the bearings, said restricting eect being tremendously greater than the restricting effect of the piping and bearings, and being so high as to permit lubricant flow only under sub stantial pressure applied through the column of lubricant in the piping and also so high as to substantially prevent gravity flow, including an elongated block of wood, and means to restrict ingress and egress of lubricant in respect to said block of Wood to the ends thereof, the inletv end of said block of woodvbeing provided with a cavity receiving an inlet strainer.

6. In a centralized lubricating installation, a device including as a restriction element, an elongated mass, laterally constricted, to form a plurality of capillary passages of high restricting effect therethrough, a lubricant receiving chamber below said mass and receiving lubricant which seepstherethrough, said chamber having an outlet substantially above the bottom thereof and a tube depending into said chamber receiving the ow from said mass, and forming a seal in respect to said chamber.

7. In a central lubricating installation for a mechanism of the type having a plurality of bearings includlng a central source of lubricant supply and pressure, a conduit system with an inlet said member having a much greater resistance to lubricant flow than the rest of the conduit system and the bearings, whereby it will have a predominating effect upon the rate of flow toward the bearing, will only permit substantial ow toward the bearing under applied pressure and will substantially prevent gravity flow.

8. 1n a centralized lubricating installation for a mechanism. of the type having a plurality of f bearings including a central source of lubricant supply and pressure, a conduit system with an inlet from said source and branches, each branch including a flow metering unit; each said flow metering unit comprising a resistance member tightly held Within rthe corresponding branch and consisting of a porous capillary filler member composed of a mass of bristles tightly compacted by a coil spring encircling the same, said compacted bristles having a much greater resistance to lubricant flow than the rest of the conduit system and the bearings, whereby they will have a predominating effect upon the rate` of ilow toward the bearing,r will only permit substantial flow toward the bearing under applied pressure and will substantially prevent gravity flow.

, GEORGE BIJUR, Eecutor of the Estate ogf Joseph Bz'iur, Deceased. 

